AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D vs Intel Xeon 6740P Comparison

Intel Xeon 6740P vs AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D

The Intel Xeon 6740P and AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D occupy different corners of the server and workstation market, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. Across the eleven recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel part wins nine, while the AMD part takes two, with the Xeon dominating multi-threaded workloads by margins ranging from 29.1% to 102.1%. The Ryzen, however, posts a decisive 35.5% advantage in single-thread performance. These are not close competitors in most metrics; they are specialized tools for different workloads, and the data supports that conclusion from the first test to the last.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the comparison belongs to the Intel Xeon 6740P in the PassMark physics test, where it scores 9705 against the Ryzen's 4801, a delta of 102.1%. That is more than double the AMD part's result, and it sets the tone for the rest of the multi-threaded suite. The floating point math test shows an 88.5% advantage (296102 versus 157123), and random string sorting follows at 88.4% (175015 versus 92886). Data encryption also favors Intel heavily, with a score of 82028 versus 43905, an 86.8% gap. These are not incremental differences; they are generational-scale gaps in raw throughput.

The Xeon's lead continues across other compute-heavy tests. Data compression shows 1537129 versus 895563, a 71.6% advantage. Extended instructions land at 116992 versus 70797, a 65.2% gap. Integer math comes in at 388500 versus 237955, a 63.3% lead. The smallest multi-threaded margin is in the multithread test, where Intel scores 88061 against AMD's 68225, still a solid 29.1% advantage. Even the find prime numbers test, which often favors high-frequency parts, goes to Intel at 822 versus 599, a 37.2% delta.

The Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D wins only the single-thread tests, and it wins them clearly. In both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, the AMD part scores 4614 against Intel's 2975, a 35.5% advantage. That is the only category where the Ryzen leads, but it is a meaningful one for latency-sensitive and lightly threaded applications. The data shows a clear pattern: the Xeon 6740P is built for parallel throughput, while the Ryzen is built for single-core responsiveness.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split explains the benchmark results. The Intel Xeon 6740P uses the Granite Rapids architecture, built on a 5 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 2x 598 mm². It packs 48 cores and 96 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy is generous: 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 288 MB of L3. Memory support is DDR5 over an eight-channel bus, yielding 409.6 GB/s of bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 5 with 88 lanes from the CPU. The TDP is 270 watts, and it uses Intel Socket 4710.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D is a smaller part in almost every dimension. It uses the Granite Ridge codename, part of the Zen 5 generation, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 16,630 million transistors and a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². It has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. Cache is smaller per core: 80 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and a shared 128 MB L3. Memory is DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, providing 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 5 with 24 lanes. The TDP is 170 watts, on AMD Socket AM5. It also includes integrated Radeon Graphics, which the Intel part lacks.

The process node difference is notable: AMD uses 4 nm from TSMC versus Intel's 5 nm, and the transistor count for AMD is explicit at 16,630 million. The core count gap is the dominant factor in multi-threaded tests: 48 cores versus 16 cores is a 3x difference. The clock speed gap is equally important for single-thread tests: 5.50 GHz versus 3.80 GHz is a 44.7% higher boost clock for AMD. The memory bandwidth gap (409.6 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s) explains why the Xeon excels in memory-heavy workloads like data compression and random string sorting.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6740P wins in every scenario that scales with core count, memory bandwidth, or parallel execution. The physics test, floating point math, integer math, data encryption, data compression, extended instructions, and random string sorting all favor Intel by margins of 29.1% or more. For server workloads like database processing, scientific computing, virtualization, or any batch job that can use 96 threads, the Xeon is the clear choice based on the recorded data. The 288 MB of L3 cache and eight-channel memory bus are designed for exactly these workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D wins in single-thread performance, and that translates to specific use cases. Applications that depend on a single core's speed, such as certain legacy software, lightly threaded simulations, or interactive workstation tasks, will see a 35.5% advantage with the Ryzen. The higher boost clock of 5.50 GHz, combined with the smaller, faster die, gives it a clear edge in latency-sensitive scenarios. The integrated Radeon Graphics also means the Ryzen can drive a display without a discrete GPU, which is a practical advantage for workstation setups.

The data does not show a middle ground. There is no test where the two parts are within a few percent of each other. The smallest margin in the entire set is the 29.1% lead for Intel in the multithread test. Every other result is a gap of at least 35.5% in one direction or the other. This is a binary split: choose the Xeon for throughput, choose the Ryzen for single-thread speed.

The Verdict

The verdict is straightforward from the recorded benchmarks. The Intel Xeon 6740P is the superior processor for multi-threaded, server-class workloads. It wins 9 of 11 tests, with margins that range from 29.1% to 102.1%. Any application that can utilize more than a few cores will benefit from the Xeon's 48 cores, 96 threads, and 409.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The data shows no scenario in the multi-threaded suite where the Ryzen comes close.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D is the better choice for single-threaded performance. Its 35.5% advantage in the single-thread tests is the largest win for either part in any category where it leads. For users whose primary workloads are single-threaded or lightly threaded, the Ryzen's higher boost clock and smaller, faster architecture will deliver better performance. The integrated Radeon Graphics adds functionality the Xeon does not offer.

The decision hinges on the workload. If the database, simulation, or rendering job can scale across cores, the Xeon 6740P is the data-backed pick. If the workload is single-threaded or requires the fastest possible response from one core, the Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D wins. There is no universal winner; there is only the correct tool for the task.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon 6740P has 48 cores and 96 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon 6740P boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark physics test, where the Intel Xeon 6740P scores 102.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D win any tests?

A: Yes, it wins the single-thread tests, scoring 4614 versus 2975, a 35.5% advantage over the Intel part.

Q: Which processor has more memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon 6740P has 409.6 GB/s over an eight-channel DDR5 bus, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D has 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D includes Radeon Graphics, while the Intel Xeon 6740P has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon 6740P | AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 48 | 16 |

| Threads | 96 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 270 W | 170 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4710 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Granite Rapids | Granite Ridge (Zen 5) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 16,630 million |

| Die Size | 2x 598 mm² | 2x 70.6 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 112 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB per core | 1 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 288 MB shared | 128 MB shared |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 409.6 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 88 lanes | Gen 5, 24 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Radeon Graphics |

| Part Number | SRV5R | 100-000001999 |

| Release Date | 2025-02-23 | 2026-06-29 |

| Launch MSRP | $4650 | Not recorded |